"Is that really the case? If Mikoto hadn't told me, who knows how much longer you would've kept it from me." Looking at the pouting Kushina, Aoshi simply smiled without offering any further explanation.
They had known each other for years, and he understood she wasn't truly angry.
Sure enough, the next moment, Kushina burst into laughter as well and slapped him heartily on the back.
"Who would've thought you'd actually be so talented in medical ninjutsu, Aoshi?"
While they were chatting, a nurse knocked on the door, interrupting them.
"Lord Aoshi, another patient has arrived. Please come quickly."
"Got it. I'll be right there."
Seeing this, Kushina stood as well, stretching her arms lazily. "Alright then, I won't take up any more of your precious time, Mr. Busybody."
---
After leaving the Konoha Hospital, Kushina quickly returned to the Senju compound.
It just so happened to be lunchtime. At the dining table, Mito Uzumaki sat at the head, with Tsunade and Kushina seated on either side.
Mito was a member of the Uzumaki Clan who had married Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, at a young age and later became the very first jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails.
Tsunade, on the other hand, was their granddaughter and also a student of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Her skill in medical ninjutsu was unmatched—if Tsunade wasn't the best, then no one in the entire ninja world could claim to be.
However, ever since the Second Great Ninja War, when she earned the title of one of the 'Legendary Sannin,' Tsunade had changed. She became addicted to gambling and rarely set foot in Konoha Hospital anymore.
Still, no matter what, she always returned home on time for lunch.
The vast Senju compound now only saw these three eating together. That was because the Senju Clan had long since been fully integrated into Konoha.
There should have been a fourth at the table—Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki—but he had been killed by an explosive tag trap during the Second Great Ninja War.
"Tsunade-sama, guess what I saw today at Konoha Hospital?"
"Aoshi's already a medical ninja now. He even treated Mikoto. He's a genius in medical ninjutsu!"
Both Mito and Tsunade were surprised.
Kushina was destined to be the next Nine-Tails jinchūriki—a key figure in Konoha—so the two paid close attention to her circle of friends.
Naturally, they knew of the Aoshi she mentioned.
They had always assumed he was just an ordinary civilian ninja. Who would've thought he possessed such remarkable talent in medical ninjutsu?
"Are you sure you're talking about that Hirakawa Aoshi?" Tsunade asked in disbelief.
She remembered that a year ago, Kushina had asked her to give Aoshi some guidance. But Tsunade had been in a bad mood at the time, and given Aoshi's then-mediocre performance, she flat-out refused.
Yet in just a single year, the kid could already perform surgeries on his own?
If that were true, then Aoshi's talent might just rival hers—back when she was in her prime.
"Who else would I be talking about?" Kushina replied with a light chuckle.
Her childhood had been shaped by loss and war—memories that made her despise conflict and cherish her friends and loved ones all the more.
So whenever she could lend a hand, she did.
One of her reasons for involving Tsunade now was the hope of reigniting that old spark within her. If she could inspire her to return to the field, even a little, it would be worth it.
Two birds with one stone. Help Aoshi—and maybe help Tsunade find herself again.
"So, Tsunade-sama, this time you won't refuse to mentor Aoshi again, right?"
Mito, who had been quietly listening, also spoke up. "Tsunade, you haven't set foot in the hospital in quite a while."
Mito understood Kushina's intentions very well and supported her. She didn't want Tsunade to remain trapped in sorrow forever.
Since even Mito had spoken, and this was only about providing guidance—not taking on a disciple—Tsunade couldn't brush it off too easily.
Still, she didn't want to agree either. She had yet to overcome the hurdle in her heart.
"…Fine. I'll visit Konoha Hospital tomorrow. If that kid is really as capable as you say, I might give him a few pointers."
In the end, Tsunade compromised.
It was just a visit, after all. She refused to believe someone who'd always been so average was secretly a medical genius. Even though Kushina claimed Aoshi treated Uchiha Mikoto, Tsunade figured he must've only been assisting.
"That's great!" Kushina was overjoyed that Tsunade had finally relented.
Once the first step is taken, the second and third will follow.
Seeing this, Tsunade quickly emphasized again: "But only if his talent satisfies me. And even if it does, it'll just be guidance—nothing more!"
---
Inside Konoha Hospital.
Unaware of the developments in the Senju compound, Aoshi was in the middle of another surgery. A middle-aged chunin had injured his left eye during a mission.
In the anime, it was shown that ninja eyes were basically plug-and-play—just pop one out, pop another in, and you're good to go.
But reality was far less forgiving. Only those with exceptionally strong healing factors or advanced medical support could afford to treat eye injuries so casually.
Ordinary ninja required immediate treatment—without it, the risk of long-term complications was high. Vision loss, chakra flow disruption, even nerve damage.
Thankfully, this was the shinobi world. Here, eye surgery was far simpler than in his previous life, faster, cleaner, and often far more effective.
Also, this particular chunin was someone Aoshi knew. His name was Maruboshi Kosuke.
In his youth, driven by ambition, Kosuke had once led a mission recklessly, resulting in the deaths of two teammates. Since then, he had sworn to the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, that he would forever remain a genin.
But despite the title of 'eternal genin,' his true strength was that of an elite jōnin.
Aoshi didn't know him from his past life; Kosuke had only appeared briefly in the original anime as an old man. Now, he was only middle-aged.
They had first met a few years ago, shortly after Aoshi graduated from the Academy, during a joint mission. Sensing an opportunity, Aoshi acted shamelessly and asked him to teach ninjutsu.
Kosuke, a true inheritor of the Will of Fire, hadn't turned him away and had even taught him Konoha-style Swordsmanship.
Ten minutes later, the treatment was complete.
[Treatment of Maruboshi Kosuke completed. Reward: One gold orb.
Congratulations, you've received: Water Style - Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu.]
Hearing the system's voice, Aoshi silently nodded in affirmation.
He had long suspected the system judged rewards based on a patient's actual strength, not their official rank.
"Uncle Kosuke, your eye is all set. Just rest for another day or two, and you'll be fine to leave."
"Thanks, Aoshi."
"I'm just doing my job. Besides, if you hadn't taught me swordsmanship back then, I might've already died in the war."
Aoshi was fully aware of his own limitations. On the battlefield, he'd have been cannon fodder. He owed everything he had now to Kosuke.